Category: Dental Care

Having a healthy mouth can do wonders for your life, both in regards to self-esteem and overall health. Yet the foods we eat and the bad habits are obstacles that stand in the path to a healthy mouth. Do your part to promote healthy oral hygiene by knowing what oral maintenance involves.

Bacteria can be the bane of your existence if you care about dental health, and you should. Not only can it cause teeth discoloration, but it could also cause periodontal disease. Avoid these catastrophic effects by knowing how to take good care of your oral health from home.

Do you notice that your breath smells foul even when you haven’t eaten anything that has a particularly strong odour? Are you becoming conscious that you are turning off the people you are talking to because they smell this odour, too, coming from your mouth? If you are suffering from halitosis, otherwise known as bad breath, you need to check in with your dentist as soon as you can.

Sources of Bad Breath

Bad breath typically is associated with the food you last ate. If the food had ingredients with strong smells, such as onion, for example, then it’s only natural that the smell will be in your mouth, too. In certain cases, though, it has nothing to do with your meal. What compounds bad breath is if you do not practice proper oral hygiene.

Sometimes, bad breath comes from a decay or infection in a tooth. It may also be indicative of an illness or condition in another part of your body, such as your digestive system. Whatever the source may be, it is important that you visit with your dentist to get to the bottom of it.

Bad Breath and Illnesses

There are various oral conditions that can give you bad breath apart from tooth decay. Even periodontal (gum) diseases can result to this. Dry mouth, salivary gland problems, or even medication side-effects also contribute to your mouth’s foul smell.

As for the illnesses, the ones you should be on the lookout for if you’re having trouble getting rid of bad breath would be bronchitis, diabetes, liver or kidney problems, and even pneumonia. These may seem like they shouldn’t have anything to do with your oral condition, but they do. In this case, your bad breath is not the main problem, but rather is only a symptom of a bigger one, and so you’ll need to get help from the proper specialist.

At the very least, though, your dentist could help you identify this bigger problem by first checking up on your bad breath.

Most people tend to forego preventative oral care, and only think about going to their dentist when a dental problem already exists. You shouldn’t wait until you’re in intense pain before you give your dentist a call or pay them a visit, though. While you can rely on modern medicine for your dental care, it’s still much better if you avoid oral problems in the first place.

Perfect Timing

One of the biggest questions about dental visits is the timing for it. How frequently should an adult come to their dentist to ensure good oral health? The general rule of thumb is that twice a year is sufficient. You shouldn’t take it as an absolute rule, though, because ultimately, the number of times you visit your dentist will depend on your need.

Sometimes, even if you do practice good oral hygiene, there may still be problems that come up such as weak gums or bad breath. In these cases, your oral problem isn’t really due to your lack of oral care, but rather is a symptom of another illness or condition in another part of your body. Because the symptoms manifest as an oral issue, however, you go to your dentist to find solutions. This can actually prove to be very helpful because they can determine your oral care issue as a symptom of another condition (ie. gut problems), and thus refer you to make an appointment with the right doctor for it.

That said, it should be ideal for you to visit your dentist any time you notice a problem–preferably, immediately. Even when all is well, though, it’s still advisable to check in with them at least twice a year, just to make sure.

Teeth can experience all sorts of problems over time. Whether it is yellow stains or cavities, you can deal with these problems correctly by adapting a good dental hygiene plan that you can follow on a daily basis.

Eat Healthy

In order to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to eat the right foods, especially dark and leafy greens. These foods, including kale, require you to chew a lot. The constant chewing helps clean bacteria and plaque off your teeth so that they stay clean.

Cheese is also great to eat for cleaning your teeth because it helps produce more saliva in your mouth. With more saliva in your mouth, the amount of bacteria is effectively regulated.

Sometimes taking good care of your teeth isn’t enough. There are times when you need to see a dentist, who can perform specialized procedures to restore your teeth.

Missing Teeth

If there are teeth missing from your mouth, your confidence may suffer as a result. You can get it back thanks to dental implants, though. A Colorado Springs dentist can offer dental implants, which look and feel just like normal, real teeth.

After these implants are secured into your gums, they will remain there for a long time. In fact, if you properly take care of them, they can last for as long as 10 years. Dental implants also give you the proper face structure so that your jawline doesn’t sag or look abnormal.

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Pine Creek Dental, a dentist office in Colorado Springs, CO, has provided personalized dental care for thousands of families. We create a simple, comfortable dental experience so that we can focus on building a lifelong relationship with you and your family. Our patients go to great lengths in order to experience the warm, individualized care we provide. We pride ourselves in offering a variety of services and using cutting-edge equipment and techniques. Call today to set an appointment. (719) 268-9400.
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